"Leading in a new world requires the ability to join the dots, connecting the most relevant information and people fromacross the organisation when making decisions," says Zahra Cassim, the head of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants' (CIMA) South African chapter, a gold partner at the Finance Indaba Africa 2016 on 13 and 14 October 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

REGISTER NOW for the Finance Indaba. Limited FREE tickets with with invitation code: prof16.

In the coming weeks and months, we will be chatting to all the Indaba partners, asking them why they are joining the event and what their most important message for finance professionals is.

Do you want to hear how CIMA graduates are driving strong business performance? Do you want to be informed about the latest and greatest in finance? Then don't miss the Finance Indaba Africa 2016. Why will you be present at the Finance Indaba?"The Finance Indaba will bring together over 5 000 finance professionals and presents the opportunity for CIMA to share the new developments in the management accounting profession, which includes:

The formation of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, a deepening of the joint venture between CIMA and the AICPA which has been in existence since 2011, representing the entire profession and advancing the accounting profession around the world.

Cutting edge research that CIMA and AICPA have jointly produced in the joint venture since 2011."

What will you be talking about?"The new CGMA report 'Joining the dots: decision-making for a new era'. High-quality decision-making has never been more important – or more difficult. Leading in a new world requires the ability to join the dots, connecting the most relevant information and people from across the organisation when making decisions."What are the challenges you can help finance professionals with in 2016?"We live in a time of rapid change and increasing competition and the way in which business is being conducted presents profound challenges for organisations across the world. Systems of production, management and governance are all being transformed, putting increasing pressure on businesses to create value. CIMA equips CGMAs with the skills, knowledge and business acumen to guide critical business decisions and drive strong business performance. CIMA provides skills which encompass a mix of operations, management and strategy to drive sustainable business success and create value by applying leading edge techniques with a commercial and forward looking focus. The CIMA qualification provides an in-depth understanding of business to allow quick adaptation to the changing needs of organisations."How does the CIMA qualification differ from the CA one?

Financial Accounting:

Reporting financial performance

Laws, standards and regulations

Financial, quantitative, certain

Static

Historical

Reporting, technical, analytical

Compliance

Management Accounting:

Managing business opportunities

Evidence, solutions, best practice

Non-financial, qualitative, predictive

Dynamic

Forward-looking

Communicating, innovative, problem-solving

Strategy

Are African Cima student numbers growing?"In 2012, black African students represented 40% of the student base and the transformation has steadily grown to 51% in 2015. CIMA is involved in programmes within various corporates which promote learnerships to study CIMA for BEE candidates. The three levels of CIMA qualifications are registered as learnerships with FASSET."